HIGH-DEFINITION CONNECTOR FOR TELEVISIONS

• US 20090093164A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Majidimehr, Amir Hossein, Lee, Ming-Chieh
• Application Number:
  US11/866,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/626
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A connector is disclosed that includes one or more pins allowing power to be provided to a connector board attached externally to the television set. In one embodiment, the connector has one or more USB pins to allow serial communication between the television set and the connector board. In another embodiment, the connector has one or more pins to allow communication of television setup information to the connector board. In yet another embodiment, the connector board may use the setup information provided from the television to perform audio processing and deliver enhanced audio sound to the speaker system associated with the television. The connector board may also wirelessly communicate with a personal computer, thereby coupling the personal computer to the television set.

Claims

1. A method for displaying images on a television set, comprising:

providing a printed circuit board positioned externally from the television set and physically attached and electrically connected to the television set without cables;

receiving power from the television set in order to power the printed circuit board;

receiving media data on the printed circuit board using the power received from the television set;

transmitting the media data from the printed circuit board to the television set; and

displaying the media data on the television set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving media data on the printed circuit board includes wirelessly receiving the media data from a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the media data includes communicating the media data to the television through an HDMI-compatible data transmission.

4. The method of claim 1, further including receiving in the printed circuit board, television setup information transmitted from the television set to the printed circuit board.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the setup information includes information related to audio components connected to the television set.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the audio components include speakers coupled to the television set.

7. The method of claim 6, further including receiving an audio signal on the printed circuit board to be played over the speakers, and processing the audio signal using the setup information received from the television set.

8. The method of claim 1, further including communicating between the television set and the printed circuit board using a universal serial bus.

9. A connector for a television set, comprising:

connector pins for complying with data transmission according to a high-definition multimedia interface; and

a power pin for supplying power from the television set to an externally connected board physically attached to the television set.

10. The connector of claim 9, further including a pin for communicating television setup information to the board.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the television setup information includes speaker information associated with speakers connected to the television set.

12. The connector of claim 9, further including one or more pins for establishing a USB connection between the board and the television set.

13. A system for displaying images:

a television set;

a board physically attached and electrically connected to the television set without cables; and

a personal computer communicating with the board to allow communication between the television set and the personal computer.

14. The system of claim 13, further including speakers coupled to the television set, wherein the television set communicates information to the board regarding the speaker type.

15. The system of claim 13, further including an external disk drive coupled to the board.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a USB connection between the television set and the board to couple the external disk drive to the television set.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the board communicates with the television through data pins complying with an HDMI standard.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the board includes a processor thereon for processing audio information to be played over the speaker system associated with the television set.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the board includes a connector including an HDMI standard with additional pins for supplying one or more of the following features:

power, a USB port, television setup information.

20. The system of claim 13, further including power regulators positioned on the board.